Buck Niu stepped forward, bowing slightly with a flattering smile.
"Mr. Jack, it's an honor. I'm Buck Niu."
Emily Carter was taken aback when she saw who it was—Buck Niu, the real heavyweight in Riverton City. Her heart skipped a beat. This was a man so powerful that even the state governor had to treat him with courtesy.
But seeing such a figure acting humbly before Jack, with a hint of reverence in his voice, nearly made her jaw drop. She even rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. The man who had just greeted Jack like a subordinate... could it really be that Buck Niu?
She thought she had already begun to understand Jack's influence—but now she realized she'd only seen the tip of the iceberg.
Jack gave a polite nod. "What can I do for you?"
Buck Niu didn't dare waste a second. "It's about the rent. I'd like to prepay for five years."
Jack, clearly not one for idle chatter, raised an eyebrow. "You could've handled that directly with Wilson. There's no need to come to me."
"Yes, yes, I already transferred five hundred million into the company's account," Buck blurted quickly, afraid even a pause might annoy Jack.
Jack's expression softened slightly. Though he wasn't concerned about the money, he appreciated people who handled things efficiently.
"Anything else?" he asked calmly.
Buck hesitated for half a beat before speaking again, his hands nervously rubbing together. "We'd like to invite you to dinner, if you're available."
He watched Jack's face closely, his palms damp with sweat, terrified of rejection.
"Oh? A dinner invitation?" Jack glanced toward the window. Just a single look, and Buck felt like he'd been swept into a storm. The pressure was suffocating. Thankfully, Jack looked away just as quickly.
"I have a few friends who greatly admire you. They'd love a chance to meet you," Buck added quickly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Jack paused in thought. Building relationships with capable individuals could prove useful in the future. After a moment, he gave a faint nod.
"Alright. When?"
Buck's face lit up. "How about right now?"
Jack glanced at Emily.
"Want to come with me?"
Emily shook her head with a gentle smile. "You go ahead. I'll head back on my own."
Jack nodded, pressing the keys to his Venom sports car into her hand. Looking into her eyes, he added with concern, "Drive safe."
Emily gave a soft "Mm" and held the keys tightly.
Jack turned back to Buck. "Let's go."
The two headed downstairs, where Buck's personal driver was already waiting. Buck rushed ahead and opened the door for Jack like an eager chauffeur.
Onlookers nearby couldn't help but whisper:
"Who is that guy? Buck Niu himself opened the door for him?"
"He's so young… and handsome! I think I just fell in love."
"Which rich family is he from? Even Mr. Niu treats him like royalty."
"Could he be a young heir from Capitol City? Only someone like that would get this kind of treatment."
At the Golden Apex Hotel, a five-star luxury establishment in Riverton City, a luxury sedan pulled up to the entrance. Jack and Buck stepped out.
"After you, Mr. Jack," Buck said respectfully.
Jack gave a nod and entered the hotel.
Inside a private dining suite, three men were already seated. When they saw Jack and Buck enter, they stood at once, their eyes focused intently on Jack.
"Mr. Jack, this is Marvin Stone, Chairman of Horizon Properties," Buck said, pointing to a slightly chubby middle-aged man.
"Mr. Jack, a pleasure," Marvin said with a respectful nod.
Jack offered a light smile. "Nice to meet you."
Buck then gestured toward a balding man. "This is Oliver Ray, Chairman of Meridian Logistics."
"Mr. Jack, delighted to meet you," Oliver said, bowing slightly with a grin.
Jack gave another nod.
"And finally, this is Arthur Chase, Chairman of Nova Investments," Buck said, gesturing to a sharp-featured man with a calculating gaze.
"Mr. Jack," Arthur said, his tone full of deference.
After brief introductions, the group took their seats. Dishes and wine were quickly served.
One by one, the four men raised their glasses to toast Jack. He responded with equal enthusiasm, drinking without hesitation. Thanks to the body-enhancing pill he had taken, Jack's alcohol tolerance had skyrocketed—he could easily outdrink them all without feeling a thing.
The atmosphere was lively, and everyone seemed to enjoy Jack's company. The dinner went on smoothly until the door suddenly burst open.
A woman strode in—wearing a coffee-colored short trench coat, her long burgundy hair cascading over her shoulders, her makeup immaculate and alluring. Her natural beauty, accentuated by her confident demeanor, caught everyone's attention.
The moment she saw Arthur Chase, her eyes lit up. She rushed over, speaking quickly:
"Mr. Chase, please—just take a look at this script. I swear, this project will be a huge hit if you invest!"
Arthur glanced around the room, especially at Jack. His brows furrowed.
"I already told you—I'm not interested. Find someone else."
"Please, just read it. You might change your mind," the woman persisted.
"Zhao Xiuning, can't you see I'm entertaining important guests? Leave. I'll contact you later."
Arthur's voice was laced with irritation.
Jack, calmly observing the scene, spoke silently in his mind:
"System, pull up Zhao Xiuning's profile."
Zhao Xiuning, 26 years old. Graduate of Riverton Film Academy. D-list actress. Once blacklisted for refusing a producer's unspoken 'rules.' Currently seeking investors to fund her passion project and revive her career.
Jack raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Arthur moved as if to escort Zhao Xiuning out—but Jack suddenly spoke:
"Wait."
All four men froze, shocked. None of them understood what Jack was thinking.
Zhao Xiuning, who had noticed the man in the main seat from the start, now turned toward Jack with wide eyes.
"I'd like to see your script," Jack said, his tone calm and steady.
Zhao Xiuning hesitated. She didn't know his intentions, and for a moment, uncertainty clouded her eyes.
Arthur, noticing her hesitation, quickly said, "If Mr. Jack likes it, your script might just become the next big thing."
She nodded at last.
Jack stood up and bid farewell to the four men before heading upstairs toward the presidential suite.
As she followed behind, Zhao Xiuning couldn't hide the nervousness in her eyes. Her heart was a mess of emotions—this man's looks, his aura, everything about him tugged at her heartstrings. He was exactly her type, and she found herself dangerously drawn to him.
Inside the luxurious suite, Jack took a seat on the plush leather sofa, his gaze calm but commanding.
"If you want investment," Jack said, looking at her steadily, "you have to be prepared to pay a price."
His voice was neither cold nor warm, but it carried weight. A simple script wasn't enough to guarantee success—whether the project would blow up or flop depended on far more than just words on paper.